Combination bench and table



Dec; 20, 1932.

R.BRENHOLT$ COMBINATION BENCH AND TABLE Filed Jan. 11. 1950 2 Shets-Shee} l 20, 1932. BRENHOLTS COMBINATION BENCH AND TABLE Filed Jan. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet H37 Ema/Inglis Patented Dec. 20, 1 932 my BRENHOLTS, or oomimnus, oino counmn'rron BENCH nn TABLE Application filed January 11, 1930. "Seria1 No. 420,240.

r This invention relates to a combined table and seat and is particularlyadapted for use in connection with restaurants, lunch rooms and other eating places.

In the present day method of, serving lunches, wherein time savin is an important factor to be consldere the use of a table which may be converted from theordi-v nary height to an elevated position enables 1o self-service to be effected and eliminates the necessity of seats or benches thereby permitting ready access and egress to and from" the table, thus serving as a counter. On the contrary when dinner is desired, the table may be lowered and guests seated in 'the ordinary manner. 7

The primary object of the present invention lies in the provision of a combination table andseat of this character which is so constructed that it may be readily con verted from a low into a high table with a seat or seats swung fromactive positions at the sides of the table to'inactive positions rearwardly and out of the way, permitting the user of the table to occupy a standing or seated position at said table. a

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a'newtype of furniture of the aforesaid character embodying a table having a movable top and shiftable seats attached thereto'so that upon the manipula tion of the table the seats are automatically swung to either active or inactive ositions. The means connecting the table an benches is so arranged as not to interfere with the feet of the persons occupying the benches or seats or obstruct the passage between the table and seats.

With these and other objects in view, which 40 will appearas the description 1proceeds, the invention consists in the nove features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and pointed out in the 'ap-' pended claims.

In the accompanying. drawings: v t Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table and seats comprising the (present invention, 'Figure 2 is a View in si e elevation of the table in its elevated position,

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the table in its lowered position, i Figure 4 is an enlarged verticaltransverse' sectional view taken through the'table and the associated bench, e' 1 Figure'5 is a vertical sectional view taken 1 on the line 5+5 of'Figure 4;," Figure-f6 isa similar view taken on the line 66 of- Figure 1, "Figure? is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 77 of Figure 1. -Referiing more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates my improvedcombination table and seats-in its entirety and which table and seats in this instance are arranged with one of their'ends along the wall structure 2 with the seats or benches 3 at the sides of the table.

With reference to the construction ofthe table, the top 4 thereof is supported by frames or legs 5 which have their lower ends en-- larged to form feet 6 which are connected by a'longitudinal tie member or rod 7 The upper portionof the supports or legs 5 are also connected by a similarly arranged tie member'8 which together with the member 7 serves to hold the end framesin a rigid spaced relation. If desired, the end'frames of the table maybe anchored or secured to the floor in any suitable manner to prevent shifting ofthe table during the raising or lowering thereof relativeto the floor. T T 1 Depending fromthe under side'of the table top 4 andpositionecl near the ends thereof are transverselydisposed rails or'braces 9 which have their lower edges hingedly connected as-at 10 to floating or swinging leaves 11 which in turn are hingedly-connected as at12to the upper ends of the end frames is or leg 1nembers 5; When the table top 41 is in its lower position as shown in Figures 3- and 5, the leaves 11 are disposed between the rails 9 and the leg members 5 ma depend ing vertical position; Thehinged arrange- A? ment of the leaves 11 is such that the latter will swing outwardly and upwardly uponthe raising of the table top 4 untilthe leaves are vertically aligned with the'le'g'members' 5 of the table The are of swinging movement ofthe leaves 11 is indicated by. dotted lines v in Figure 2. It will be seen by reference to Figure 5 that due to the novel arrangement of the hinges 10, the leaves 11 can only break in an outward direction away from the wall 2. However, the position of the table relative to the wall 2 may be such that the table top will engage therewith and which wall may thus 'act as a stop-to the table topin an inward direction when the table occupies an elevated position. To prevent accidental collapse of the table, there isprovided a brace 13 having its upper end hinged as at 14 to the inner of the rails 9 and the lower end positioned within a notch 15 formed in. the upper edge of the tie member 8. It will be understood that when itis desired to lower the table it is only necessary to raise the lower end of the brace 13 from out of engagement with the notch 15 and givethe table an outward pull which will swing on the leaves 11 ;u-ntil thetop 4 occupies the position disclosed in Figure 3. r If desired, the wall 2 may be provided with a shelf 16 in alignment with the top 4 when in a lowered position, so as to close up the space between the wall and the edge ofthe table. I I

In order to effect the automatic operation ofthe benches with the table top there is positioned for verticalsliding movement an inverted T-loar 17, which has-its vertical leg 18 slidably positioned within a bearing member 19 secured to thewall 2. The upper end of the leg 18 is formed with an inward extension2O to which the lower end of a link 21 is hinged. This link, which is inwardly inclined, has its upper end hingedly connected to the under side of the table top 4. It will thus be seen that as the table is raised or lowered the bar 17 will thus slide up or down in a. vertical. plane. The extension 20 is of sufiicient width to insure the clearance of the shelf 16 when the table is raised to its elevated position. 7 Each of the benches 3 comprises a top or seat 22 hinged along one of its edges to back rests 23 which may be of any desired height. The outer free edges of the seats are supported by leg members 24 which have their upper ends hinged as at 25 to the seat 22, and the lower end engaging the post members 26 forming part of the back rest 23.-

Thelegs 24 are arranged on an incline to provide a wider aisle between the table and the benches and to prevent the obstruction of the passage therebetween. The inner leg members 24 are provided with pins 26 which are receivedwithin openings provided in the outer ends of the horizontal portion 27 of the T-bar17. It will thus be. seen that if the T-bar 17 is raised by the operation of the table top the seat 22 due to its connection with the portion 27 will swing on its hlnge and lie vertically against the back rest 23.

As the pins 26, forming a connection between the bar 17 and the leg members24,

vided with headed studs 29 which are slidablyreceived within guides 30. This connection assures the engagement of the leg members with the surface 28 during the raising and lowering of the benches. If desired, a guard member31 may be positioned to cover the lower portion of the bar 17 thus hiding the operating mechanism and adding to the general appearance of the table. Each end of this guard member is provided with a vertical slot 32 through which the pins 26 extend. 3 I g v In operation it will be observedthat if it is desired to raise the tabletop to an elevated position it is merely necessary togive the table anoutward and upward lift which-results through theinechanism connecting the table. and ftp. benchesin the upward s wing-f ing movement positions. s

. From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided a table structure which may be very conveniently and easily convertedwhen desired, from a low to a high table and which serves the doublepurpose. of a lunch counter as well asan" ordinary dining table. I I

It will be obvious that the invention may be used for various purposes, and may have a single bench instead of two and that other changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressedin the appended claims.

What i s'claimedisz. i 1. A table of the class described, formed to comprisea pair of supporting legs, a top for said table, and railspositioned onithe under side of 'saidftop, swinging leaves hingedly connected to" the" lower edges of of .benches to inactive said rails and the upper edges of said supporting legs, whereby upon the lifting of the table top saidleaves will'swing so as to form extensions for said supporting legs.

2. A table of the class describ d, formed to comprise a pair of end supports, a table top capable of being raised and lowered, and rails provided on the under side of said top and arranged on the corresponding sideslof the respective supports, movable leaves having their upper edges hinged to the upper ends of said supports and theirlower edges hinged tothe lower edges, or said end rails, said leaves being positioned between the rails and the upper ends of said supports when the table top is in its loweredposition, and when swung with said top to a raised posi tion said leaves will then be positioned in vertical; alignment awith said supports and rails. 4 1 I 3. A table of the class described, formed to comprise a pair of end supports and a movable to therefor, a rail at each end of said top an (positioned on the under side thereof, a hinge leaf connecting each rail and the upper ends of said supports and mounted for swinging movement from the sides of the supports to aposition in alignment with the latter when the table is moved to a raised position, and means carried by the under side of said top to prevent accidental collapse thereof when in a raised position.

4. A table of the class described, formed to comprise a pair of end legs united by a longitudinally extending tie member, a table top supported by said legs, a rail at each end of said top and positioned on the underside thereof, a hinged leaf connecting each of said rails with the upper ends of said legs and mounted for swinging movement from the sides of the legs to a osition in alignment with the latter when t c top is moved to a raised posit-ion, a brace hingedly carried by the under side of said top and having its lower end engaging a notch formed in the upper end of said tie member, said brace serving to prevent accidental collapse of said to En testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROY BRENHOLTS. 

